Rifle twist?

sks_shooter

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Help, I am new to relatively new to shooting, and have just gotten 223 which I will be reloading for. But the hornady book I have lists for a 1 in 12 twist and I have a 1 in 9...Do I need a new book? or will those work best?
 
I think if they indicate a load which is potentially the most accurate, it may not be reflected in your gun. The loading book is still good, but its probably best to have more than one anyways.

I think you can google a bullet stability program, I used it when I had trouble grouping 55 grain bullets, which my loading book suggested as a good starting point.

Turns out, based on the twist of my rifle, the bullets weren't stabalizing properly, after I switched to 45 and 50 grainers, it was much better.

If no lock, pm email and I can email you the program I have, its just a locked down excel sheet, but a useful tool nonetheless.

Cheers
 
Sks shooter
A 1/12 twist won't shoot big bullets in .224cal - .223 rem usually 55 to 62gr seem all the 1/12 will work with.
Your 1/9 twist will work in 53gr to 75gr bullets in my 1/9 it may very well shoot smaller bullets. but shines with 68,69 & 75gr bullets
 
Every twist will stabilize a broad range of bullet weights. As a rule of thumb, the faster the twist the longer the bullet that can be stabilized. Long bullets are generally heavier than shorter ones within caliber, but mono-metal bullets like the Barnes X tend to be longer than lead core bullets of equal weight, and sometimes the X's will require a faster twist to stabilize.

Because you are thinking in terms of loading data rather than the purchase of a new barrel, I think you can pretty much disregard any concern over the twist as it pertains to load data. Your 1:9 will stabilize pretty much any .224 bullet you encounter. Work up your loads carefully, have fun, and shoot lots.
 
I hate to mention his name again, but after all he was the dean of the shooting editors and influenced more shooters, without a doubt, than any other person. Jack O'Connor.
He did a lot of experimenting with rifle twist and wrote up his findings. He basically said that with normal twist rate in rifles, you couldn't have too much twist. In other words, get a twist to stabalize the heaviest bullets you may shoot. He then said the lightest bullets in that calibre, which in theory were "over stabilized," shot just as accurately as they did in a slower twist barrel.
 
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